Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Sunk into the cushions as far back as she could be, Soren was grateful for the warm head of fur placed in her lap. She knew that her wolf would calm her if Matt crossed any boundaries. Nodding she signalled to Matt to start her interrogation, better to get it over with, stalling would do no good.

“Alright then, James tells me your name is Soren, but you go by Ren?” He was starting off easy, Soren nodded her head in response.

“Okay good, you already know my name, Matt. I’m the Alpha of Colorado Pack, and James over here is my Beta. Do you know what that means?” Enjoying the yes or no questions, and also eager to hear more about the protective beast she had shared her home with, Soren shook her head in the negative.

“We’re a pack of wolves, more specifically werewolves as your people call them, lycanthropy. As such, we live in a tight knit community, and that community needs leadership, order. Understand?” This felt less to Soren like an interrogation, and more like a lecture on their lifestyle, but she wasn’t about to complain.

“As the Alpha I am responsible for all the lives of the people and wolves living on pack lands. This now includes you. James is my Beta, essentially my second in command, he takes care of everything relating to pack life, making sure the people are happy and living their best lives. That’s why I had to drag him away, you see he couldn’t spend all his time galivanting in the woods with you, all though I’m sure he would’ve wanted to.”

Looking down at the head in her lap Soren felt he heart swell at the thought of James foregoing his duties to look after her. Although the independent side of her rebelled at the idea of need a man to take care of her, her brain knew that he didn’t take care of her because he felt he had to, but that he wanted to. She understood the need to prove yourself, the feeling of wanting to provide for another, and though she didn’t know where her connection with James came from, she knew it bonded them together.

“Now, I have to ask you some questions, mainly where you’re from and how long you’ve been living in the woods.”

Closing her eyes, Soren pictured the home she had grown up in, the place she had long since left in her past.

“I’m from here, I think.” Curiosity lit itself in the depths of Matt’s eyes,

“Father and I walked less than a day. I know I wandered further myself, but I’m not sure exactly.” She wasn’t sure how much James had divulged of her past, of her history with the forest and her abandonment. The look on Matt’s face was one of confusion, telling Soren that Matt had no idea what she was referring to. The sense of betrayal that still lingered from earlier that day began to vanish, it seemed James had kept her sob story all to himself, and that meant more to her than she could put into words.

“My family had no money,” she began to explain, her voice soft and meek, unlike the fierce tones she had used when she had first met Matt,

“I was an unexpected surprise, and although I was a burden and another mouth to feed, my parents loved me as well as they were able. They doted on me and I was always happy, even when hunger pains kept me up at night. When I was twelve my father left me in the forest.” a low growl came from the chocolate bundle beside her and she could feel the vibrations up her body, her wolf was not happy that she had to relive it all over again.

“It’s okay,” she whispered down at him, “I’m okay.”

The wolf calmed as she soothed him, not stopping her slow strokes of his fur, kneading her arms between his ears and down his neck, forcing his eyes closed at the blissful feeling.

Looking up at Matt whose face was still intrigued, both at her story and the interaction between girl and wolf.

“I have been outdoors ever since.” She finished, waiting for his reaction.

He looked thoughtful, staring down at the girl that was almost half his size, in awe of the fact that she had survived so long alone in face of the elements. She looked to be maybe seventeen or eighteen at the most,

“How old are you?” He asked, wanting to put a number to the person.

“What year is it? I was born in 1997, sometime in the summer.” She had cinched her eyebrows together, as if it had taken a lot of work to remember that small detail.

No longer able to contain the turmoil of emotions within, James stood up on the couch, towering over his fragile looking mate, it was 2019, which meant she had to be at least 21 years old. James could hardly fathom the idea of his mate spending a couple nights alone amongst the dangers of the forest, but if she had been abandoned at twelve, that meant his blonde-haired beauty had spent nine years of her life talking to trees and air.

“You spent nine years alone.” Matt stated in disbelief, sure he knew the girl was good with a bow, and he supposed she’d be able to handle herself just fine if it came to a fight of some sort. Nine years was a long time though and looking into the haunting depths of her steel blue eyes, Matt felt like he could see the years of solitude staring back at him. She had old eyes, wise eyes and now he knew why, he was sure she had seen more than him in those nine years than he had in his life time.

“Yes, I suppose so. Is that an issue?” Again, James growled, and Matt held up his hands as a show of surrender to the aggravated wolf, showing he was not a threat.

“No. No, it’s not, it’s just surprising that’s all. Again, Wild One, you impress me.”

“Thank you, I think. Is that all Alpha Matthew Claiborne? I’d rather not answer any more questions today.” She said his name so formally Matt was almost taken aback, not even his pack members used his full title, it was either Alpha, or Alpha Claiborne, and this little human was on her way to becoming his sister.

“That’s all for now Soren, thank you for enlightening us. Just call me Matthew or Matt though, okay? No need for the formalities.”

“If that’s what you’d like Alpha Matt.” She nodded at his request. Matt sighed at the still formal title that came from her lips, it was slightly better, and he supposed she’d need a while to adjust to life here and to become more comfortable around him.

Nodding he got up and let himself out, leaving the two mates on the couch, little hands still running through warm brown fur.

“Thank you,” Her quiet voice carried itself into the large wolf’s ears, “I don’t know why, but you seem to calm me down.”

Where previously James’ wolf was growling in frustration at his mate’s discomfort, he was now letting out what could only be defined as a low purr. Contented noises the only ones he seemed capable of making. The bond between the two was strengthening with every second spent in close proximity and James could not have been happier. With such an independent and wild female for a mate, James had anticipated much more defiance, but instead here he sat, his head in his mate’s lap, closer than ever before.

James knew there was still infinitely more things to learn about the girl on his couch. There was no doubt about the depth of pain and knowledge his mate held within her, and he knew he could not expect her to trust him with all her secrets just yet, but that was the best part of spending time with his fated. He would treasure every glimpse he got into the inner workings of her complex brain, and he would do his best to make sure she never felt uncomfortable again.

Hopping off the couch, he immediately felt the absence of her hands within his fur. Every step he took towards the doorway felt painful and all he wanted was to go back to her and never leave his spot by her side. Shifting as fast as possible he threw on the first clothes he could get his hands on, rushing back downstairs to where she sat on the couch, not having moved from her spot.

“Are you hungry?”

If she was surprised by his transformation, she did not show it, simply sending him a small smile and a subtle nod,

“How ‘bout you go have a shower and get cleaned up properly this time, and I’ll make us some grub.”

Soren didn’t know why he would want to eat grubs when she had brought him a couple perfectly good rabbits, but maybe his wolf preferred the little insects, it was all the same to her.

“Do you need me to show you how to use the shower?”

She shook her head, by now James had figured out that she was a girl of few words, or rather a woman, now that he knew she was 21 and not a teenager like he had previously suspected.

“Alright then, come back down when you’re done, and I’ll have dinner all ready to go.”

He watched as she ascended the stairs towards his room, knowing that it would take them both a while to get absolutely comfortable with one another, but that it was only a matter of time. When she was out of sight he turned and began working on dinner, he had never been much of a chef, but now with someone to cook for, he felt like he could slave away all day in the kitchen and still be happy. He just wanted to watch her eat food that he had made and provided for her, his wolf wanted to assure her that when she was with him, she would never go without, that anything she wanted or needed would be hers.

Looking down at the rabbits that lay dead in the sink, he chuckled to himself, it seemed he was not the only one who wanted to prove his worth. Maybe his little mate wanted to make herself useful as well.